One Play: How Cowboys DT Maliek Collins cleared way for a sack

One Play: How Cowboys DT Maliek Collins cleared way for a sack

There are rarely any surprises when two NFC East teams meet. Opening their third-consecutive season against the New York Giants, the Cowboys did manage to keep an ace up their sleeve, though. The defensive line kept Giants QB Eli Manning under siege for most of the night, far different than what the unit normally accomplishes. They set the tone early, derailing the Giants opening drive with a crucial third-down sack.

Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli doesn’t like to rush more than four lineman. To avoid being predictable, he often stunts, having them twist or loop around each other to catch the offensive line off-guard. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins has excelled in this role and is the reason Demarcus Lawrence has a free run at Manning.

After the snap, Maliek Collins immediately rushes towards the right tackle, Bobby Hart. Meanwhile, Lawrence starts rushing up field as though it were a normal rush. Collins’ goal is to hold both linemen long enough for the defensive end to loop around him. Lawrence can’t tip that he’s not going to engage the right tackle and can’t let Hart get a good grip on him.

screencap via video.nfl.com

This is what makes Collins so special. The defensive tackle is strong enough to fend off right guard, John Jerry, while also punching the right tackle forcing him off-balance. Lawrence does a good job using his length to keep the tackle away from him and sets his feet to twist around Collins.

screencap via video.nfl.com

By the time Jerry realizes the game, Lawrence is just a couple steps from a sack. Though Collins won’t get credit on the stat sheet, he was instrumental to the Cowboys getting off the field on their opening defensive drive.

Stunts don’t always result in a sack, but even in his rookie year, Collins showed a knack for doing the dirty work and freeing up his teammates. In his sophomore season, expect him to cause even more havoc creating sacks for himself and others.

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